Holy Trinity Church
Waterhead, Oldham
The history of Holy
Trinity Church, Waterhead
Holy Trinity, Waterhead, has had an interesting
history. The parish was formed in 1844, when the Revd P.H. Reynolds was
appointed as Vicar. At this time there was still no church building. Services
(and Sunday School) were held in a room above 2
cottages located in Sidebottom Street. The Vicar nicknamed the site, ‘The
Old Cathedral.’
Numbers grew, and
eventually sufficient money was raised to build a church, which was consecrate
on 5 July 1847 by the Bishop of Chester (The Diocese of Manchester was founded
later that same year, having previously been part of the Diocese of Chester).
This church had neither spire nor tower, and cost £3600 to build.
After a further appeal,
£1400 was raised, enabling the tower and spire to be erected. The work was
completed in 1876. the tower contained one bell.
Later, additions included a vestry and organ chamber.
Meanwhile, the day
school was built in 1852, and called ‘The Waterhead National
School.’ Old parish magazines reveal that the school received very good
reports whenever the inspector called.
Holy Trinity was 160
years old in 2007. In that time, there have been only 11 Vicars, in part due to
two of them staying an inordinate length of time: ‘Daddy’ French,
as he was affectionately known, was incumbent for 48½ years, and Vicar Shaw for
37½ years.
During its lifetime,
Holy Trinity has of course seen many changes. Firstly, the building and its
fittings: the balcony at the west end has been removed; the pew doors were cut
down; we have had two organs; a few pulpits (including a triple-decker); and
four lecterns.
Secondly, the Waterhead
area has changed beyond recognition. The school closed in 1966, and all the
property in the immediate vicinity of the church was demolished in the late 60s
and early 70s.many church members were moved out — and many never
returned. The replacement included a new Church Hall, and modern housing around
the church. A sheltered-housing complex is now juxtaposed with the Hall.
The composition of the
congregation has changed since the ‘good old days.’ There is now a greater mix of the generations in the 50–60
adults who attend, and a goodly number of children in the Sunday Schools.
The most recent change
is perhaps more administrative. Holy Trinity joined the Medlock Head Team
Ministry in 2007, together with first St John the
Baptist, Hey or Lees, and more recently with St Barnabas’,
Clarksfield.
The church was listed
Grade-II in 2006. Please click here for the statement
of significance.
Which
brings us into the twenty-first century. We now have well advanced plans to
re-order the church interior, with moveable seating and a large sectioned-off
complex of kitchen, toilets and meetings rooms at the rear of the church. It is
certainly an exciting time to be a member of Holy Trinity.
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posted 4 February 2010